The Strabane Sigersons club in Co. Tyrone has been left reeling by a fresh arson attack on its property in the early hours of last Sunday morning.

An estimated €1,000 worth of damage was caused by the attack which could force the club to lock its gates at all times. Dugouts and portable goalposts were among the property destroyed by the fire.

A distraught Sigersons chairman Bob Dasey explained to the Strabane Weekly News: "This is the latest incident, but by far the worst. Someone set alight one of the bins beside the pitch and it then spread to the perplex of the dugout. It is completely destroyed and could cost anywhere up to £1,000 to replace it.

"The dug-outs were only recently done up, costing us £500 to £600 and now we have to go and restart all over again - we are just gutted and it's a real kick in the teeth. The dug-out is wrecked and will now have to be dismantled and completely rebuilt from scratch.

He continued: "We are a community club and we have a lot of young people coming here, and it is the community who are losing out because of a mindless act like this. Why target Sigersons GAA? What is to be gained by it? I would ask anyone who knows anything at all to come forward and let us know."

Condemning the attack, local Sinn Fein Councillor Brian McMahon said in a statement: "This early morning arson attack, which caused extensive damage to a player dug-out and youth goal posts at the floodlight pitch, around 5am on Sunday morning has caused widespread revulsion and anger within this community." Tweet

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